Six simple things that keep me motivated… trust yourself, break some rules, don’t be afraid to fail, ignore the naysayers, work like a dog and give something back!… We all know about giving back, and to the large team who rolled up your sleeves on the weekend to give a hand at the wheelchair shed, bravo to you!… this is what Rotary is all about!
Another thing we are all aboutL Youth! Remember Lukas Lürhmann from last week? Well Lukas is in his final week of the Youth Exchange Program before he heads back to Germany and he’ll be giving us a bit of a presentation from his time down under.
We will also hear from research fellow, Dr Danielle Stanisic, who will be talking about the huge fight we have on our hands with Malaria. Could this be Rotary’s next big mission post Polio Eradication?
Winter is here, don’t let the snooze button win, See you all for breakfast on Wednesday!
This coming Wednesday, two of our dynamic lady members will give us an overview of what happens at a Rotary Leadership Institute. Our very own Tania Laird and Jo Gorman will present an overview on the Rotary Leadership Institute. With Tania heavily involved in organizing Rotary Youth programs and Jo being President Elect 2018/19, get ready for some new stuff! Disruptive technology in Rotary? Surely not...?
Gary Thorpe OAM has a long background in classical music. Involved with FM stations for 28 years, there isn't much he doesn't know about broadcasting. But that is not what he came to talk about. Gary had started a nostalgia radio station for aged care homes called Silver Memories. It is is now broadcast to 70 sites across Australia by satellite. As people reach longer and longer lives, it is not uncommon that they suffer from dementia. "They stopped engaging" is one of the comments frequently heard of from carers, be they professional or home based. Yet, playing music from their Teenage and early twenties years produces amazing results. [I'll be looking forward to Gary's station broadcasting Pink Floyd and Rick Wakeman when I'm comfortably numb... ☺ Ed.] Endorsed by Alzheimers Australia and other similar organizations, Silver Memories provides a dedicated Radio service doing just that. All the announcers are volunteers; "some are older than the listeners!" Gary quipped. There are no ads, no news. "Ads change the sound environment, TV images change every 3 seconds", which is most distressing for a person suffering dementia. Further, the fact that staff are mostly young(er) and that they rarely, if at all, receive visitors, there is nothing to engage them.
According to a study by Gerdner & Buckwater, 'Music can be used to modify environmental stimuli'. Hence Silver Memories' Reminiscence Therapy is so valuable. "Music registers on multiple parts of the brain" Gary stated. Even with stroke damage, a sufferer still can enjoy the music. Chapeau! What a wonderful community service!
C'mon! You can to better than that! Replies so far: One. Useable? Definitely not.
"Our" Darrell Brown will be at the helm of our District, commencing 1st July. As you know, a monthly District Governor's Newsletter is published, which will be edited by me. But we need a catchy title! If geographical, it needs to encompass the entire District from the Gold Coast to Grafton and west to Glenn Innes and Goondiwindi, but it doesn't have to be geographical. Your Editor (as a gag) suggested "Brownie's Points", which predictably went down like a stone... Your editor is looking for suggestions. Do you have any suggestions? A bottle of 2011 vintage Peter Jorgensen Cabernet Sauvignon for the successful submission. Just reply to this email or click on 'Bulletin Editor' on the right side.
If you go over to the Download section on the right, you will find President Simon's list of goals he set us for this Rotary Year. (If you have not looked at it recently, how about downloading it right now?) We have just three months left. So, how are we travelling?
Wheelchair Project: Tick. Big tick relating to the Flat Pack School. We'll not just have committed, we'll have it financed too!
Youth Projects: Tick (I think)
Membership: Nowhere near!
Foundation: We'll get there. But $100.00 per head is not a big goal. Some clubs go over the $500 per head mark.
Fundraising: Some ticks, some still to come
Social: Tick. We now have a dinner meeting about once per month
District Governor's Goals: A bit weak. But now there will be another relief effort for the flood victims of Debbie to catch up on
District Governor Elect: Have you put your name down yet for a job in Darrell's team?
Some of the older members among us would remember the sentence one used to test every letter of your typewriter:
"Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party". It doesn't have to be political.
Mario Fairlie was at the door, John Franich was Chairman and Ian Mayberry was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Ray Higgs, Peter Morgan, Andy Bell, Jo Gorman, Mitch Brown and Gerald East.
President Simon Brook welcomed all members and of course our Guest Speaker Gary Thorpe OAM (see separate article above). He referred to the inaugural Gold Coast Ramble, held the previous Sunday (see last week's bulletin and website for more specifics), with special thanks to all the volunteers, and of course congratulations to Rosie McIntyre and her family for winning the 2 Hour event! We have Raffle Tickets to sell to gather together the remaining $12,000 needed to finance the School for Samoa project. And he was given a heap of compression bandages which will be given to Donations in Kind (DIK). A working bee is to be held on Saturday.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson reported that 100 wheelchairs had been shipped off to South Africa and 50 to Nigeria, and a container is booked to go to India. He also expressed his sincere thanks to his helpers in the display they had at the Gold Coast Ramble - even got donations amounting to $39.80 (not necessarily the highest average wage per hour, but then everything helps... Ed.] Col Laurensen from Donations in Kind will pick up stuff from the Shed, and Buderim Rotary Club will be coming down every 3 - 4 months or so, and they even will have somebody filming to broadcast on the Sunshine Coast.
Des La Rance advised that the Rotary Club of Surfers Paradise will visit The Shed on Tuesday 4th April, and Mark Twyford will aim to have the financials of the Gold Coast Ramble presented to the Ramble committee on Friday.
Geoff Croad reported that six Youth Exchange Students were involved as volunteers at the Gold Coast Ramble. Well done, Youth Exchange!
Mario Fairlie recounted his experiences attending the Samoa Victim Support Group's dinner on Saturday night at Loganholme, which he attended with Rosie McIntyre. "It was a most unusual night", Mario declared. "There are about 10 Church Groups involved, and the band was loud, very loud..." There were dancers who held baskets into which money could be thrown into, but some had even better arrangements: they had their bodies oiled so notes would stick to it! Rosie presented the best sales pitch ever, and we sold two books of Raffle Tickets in the process. On the slightly negative side: the House of Hope was certainly mentioned, but not a peep about the efforts of Rotary or Surfers Sunrise in particular not only financing it but also constructing it.
Ian Mayberry advised that, on the positive side, all officials over there are committed. Some 310 tickets from the Raffle have been allocated to be sold via Social Media [the campaign is under way now. Ed.]. All moneys collected from the sale of printed tickets to go directly to Treasurer Mitch Brown, and bring the stubs back please. If you go away before end of April, please bring all unsold tickets back beforehand!
President Elect Larry Murray has firmed up on the date for the Change Over Luncheon: Sunday 02 July 2017. Aiming to get the Seaworld Resort again, as we had in recent years. More details as they come to hand.
The detailed program has now been released: click here.
Starting on Friday, but you can attend any of the sessions (except the College of Governor's Lunch, unless you have PDG, DG or DGE in front of your name...). Hey, how about Professor Lyn Griffiths, the Biomedical Director at QUT (Saturday at 09:25 am). Or famous TV journalist Kerry O'Brien (yes, of the 7:30 Report and 4 Corners) at 11:25 am. Then, in the evening we have a bush dance: It will be held at the Alstonville Community Centre, just a 20 minute drive from Ballina, or if you prefer not to drive, a bus is organized. The band is Tallowwood Bush Band (yes, "No 96 to the snack bar please"...). The line-up includes a swag of incredibly talented multi-instrumentalists who present folk music from around the world with a strong Celtic influence and an emphasis on preserving the Australian family bush dance that transports the audience through time and emotion leaving no doubt why this band has been the winner of so many music awards and been so popular at festivals and events throughout Australia. And for food? Master Chef Tony Koelner will have an open spit bar-be-que.
Conference attendance itself is free, but, fair enough, some fees apply if you want to get lunch, participate in the bush dance on Saturday night etc.
John Franich, good to see you being here! Franz Huber and Larry Murray: now, what was that all about bringing unsold Raffle Tickets back? [All lack of effective communications. I simply have trouble understanding those New Australians with their funny accents! Ed.]Mario Fairlie went to look for a new car. Apparently he want to get rid of the Benz. Why? No, not because the tank is only half full. Wait for this: the doors are too long! Simon Brook, you would remember what the regular weekly fine is for? [... and while around the Leagues Club's floor the listening members moan...] Rosie McIntyre: Congratulations on your Gold Coast Ramble win on Sunday! Paul Seymour, I guess as a South African, you wouldn't get many chances to brag... Mark Twyford, as a member of the organizing committee of the Ramble: if you want me to be there next time, don't pick a date when a major Formula 1 Race is on... Bob Harrison had a call from the Maleney Rotary Club offering some bikes. And he knocked them back! (Yes, right now it is money they need, not bikes...)
"As I'm getting older, I'm scared of losing my memory."
"Just try to forget about it, my dear."
I look into your face Your eyes stare into space I try to search deep into your soul To find the man I once knew But he is not there. The emptiness goes beyond compare Where are you..? I ask. Where have you gone..? Speak to me… I love you still I want you back I need you here But the empty face is still there.
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This coming Wednesday, two of our dynamic 
lady members will give us an overview of what happens at a Rotary Leadership Institute. Our very own Tania Laird and Jo Gorman will present an overview on the Rotary Leadership Institute. With Tania heavily involved in organizing Rotary Youth programs and Jo being President Elect 2018/19, get ready for some new stuff! Disruptive technology in Rotary? Surely not...?
Gary Thorpe OAM has a long background in classical music. Involved with FM stations for 28 years, there isn't much he doesn't know about broadcasting. But that is not what he came to talk about. Gary had started a nostalgia radio station for aged care homes called Silver Memories. It is is now broadcast to 70 sites across Australia by satellite. As people reach longer and longer lives, it is not uncommon that they suffer from dementia. "They stopped engaging" is one of the comments frequently heard of from carers, be they professional or home based. Yet, playing music from their Teenage and early twenties years produces amazing results. 
.jpg)
John Franich, good to see you being here! Franz Huber and Larry Murray: now, what was that all about bringing unsold Raffle Tickets back? 